Glenside Hospital Museum
Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Bristol, Bristol, BS16 1DD
Glenside Hospital Museum is housed in a former asylum church, built for patients of Bristol psychiatric hospital in 1881, with its beautiful stained-glass windows, all designed to give hope and promote cure.Through a rich collection of medical equipment, patient art, photographs, and personal stories, the museum sheds light on the evolving treatment of mental illness and the lives of those who lived and worked at Glenside. It serves not only as a place of historical reflection but also as a space that encourages conversation around mental health today.
Secret Turret Tours
Climb a hidden spiral staircase to our turret and balcony room, part of the Grade II listed 1881 chapel. Once used by the hospital superintendent’s family, it now offers a unique view over the museum and a playful exhibit on mental health care before modern medication.
The display explores five key elements once believed to aid recovery: good food, exercise, sleep, purposeful activity, and pleasant surroundings. Wards were often decorated in bright colours and patterns to lift spirits—something captured in Stanley Spencer’s painting Bed Making, inspired by his time here as a medical orderly during the institution’s time as Beaufort War Hospital.
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 20 September:
- 10am-4pm
Location & directions
Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Bristol, Bristol, BS16 1DD
- Directions:
- Glenside Hospital Museum is located in the northeast of Bristol, just 3 miles (5 km) from the city centre. We are situated in the Grade II listed church within the grounds of the old psychiatric hospital, now used by the University of the West of England as their Health and Social Care Campus. There are two entrances to the UWE Glenside Campus. If you’re coming up Blackberry Hill from the Broomhill direction, our entrance is past the main UWE Glenside ‘Blue’ entrance, labelled the ‘White Entrance’. If you enter via the main UWE entrance, take a right at the mini roundabout and head past the front of the building. At the next mini roundabout, take a right, and the church will be on your right just before you exit the site.
- Contact on day:
- Stella Man
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
The Museum is wheelchair accessible, with the exception of our altar area where there is a step to the final metre of the display. We have an accessible toilet, and onsite parking (Saturdays only). There is lot to see, and some audio, but we do not currently offer audio descriptions. We do have volunteers however who are available as guides if required.
